KARTTIKA NIYAMA SEVA VRATA 2014 Oct 5—Nov 3

Mahanidhi Madan Gopal Das

I. What is it?
It is a 30 day vow observed during the Karttika (Damodara) month for the sole pleasure of Srimati Radharani, the Goddess of pure love devotion to Bhagavan Sri Krishna in Vrindavana. In brief, niyama-seva means offering daily regulated extra services (eg. Nama-japa, Harinama Sankirtana, pujas, dipams, prayers, sastric study, parikramas).

II. Who observes it?
Because the Karttika vrata is extensively glorified, described and recommended in the Puranas and other Vedas, all Vaisnavas observe it, especially the Gaudiya Vaisnavas who strictly follow the teachings of their Mahajana Rasikacarya Srila Rupa Gosvami pada.

III. How is Karttika Vrata related to Sri Radha?
In BRS, Rupa Gosvami describes the observance as “Respecting the Urja Vrata” and he says it is one of the sixty-four angas or important limbs of pure Krishna-bhakti. Urja refers to Sri Krishna’s internal potency for performing pastimes. Sri Radha is known as Urjeshvari, the controller or Queen of all powers and pastime potencies. Therefore, Gaudiya Vaisnavas observe Karttika Vrata to please the Queen of Bhakti, Sri Radhika, in order to attain Her eternal service along with Her Priyatama Shyama.

In Stavamala , Rupa Gosvami says Sri Radha is the ishta-devata of the Karttika month by referring to Her as Karttiki Devi. The Brahma Vaivarta Purana describes the lila wherein Sri Krishna was late for meeting His beloved  Radhika in a Vraja Nikunja. Priyaji punished Her beloved Priyatama by using many madhavi-latas to tie Madhava to a kadamba tree. Thus, the Gaudiya Vaisnavas especially worship Radha-Damodara during the month of Karttika.

In Bhagavad Gita, Bhagavan Sri Krishna says, “I am the month of Nov-Dec (margashirsh aham).” As always, Sakti precedes Saktiman as in Lakshmi-Narayana, Sita-Rama, Radha-Krishna. Therefore, the month preceding Nov-Dec (i.e. Krishna month) is Oct-Nov or Karttika which is Radharani’s month!  Jai Jai Sri Radhe!

IV. What are the benefits?
The good results of other vratas last for only one lifetime but the Karttika Vrata awards one inexhaustible benefits (akshaya phala). [HBV. 16.54] For even the smallest offering during Karttika, Sri Krishna gives one his spiritual form and eternal residence in Goloka Vrindavana.

V. Where and when to observe it?
Wherever you are that’s where, but beware your heart is there—in Vrindavana. Why is Vrindavana the best place in the universe to observe the Karttika Vrata? It is because ALL HOLY PLACES, rivers and lakes reside in Vrindavana during Karttika. The perfect atonement to purify the sins of a lifetime is to worship Radha and Krishna in Vrindavana during Karttika.

Rupa Gosvami quotes Padma Purana in BRS (1.2.222), “Lord Hari awards enjoyment and liberation to devotees observing Karttika Vrata outside Vraja Mandala.” Summarizing Sri Jiva Gosvami’s tika on this verse, our Srila Prabhupada said, “Even an unserious person who executes the Karttika Vrata in Vraja Mandala is very easily awarded Lord Krishna’s personal service.” (NOD 103)

In other words, the worship of Radha Damodara in Vraja during Karttika has such supercharged spiritual power that one immediately becomes eligible to receive pure bhakti from our most merciful Lord, Bhakta Vatsala Sri Krishna. You can start on Ekadasi or Purnima, and end a month later on Ekadasi or Purnima with breaking the fast the next day.

VI. How to observe Karttika Vrata?
Before starting the Karttika Vrata you should worship your spiritual master and the Vaisnavas, and then beg their blessings for success. All the sevas and practices mentioned here must be done every day for the entire month:

A. EATING
(Choose your diet plan , and then every day for 30 days, don’t eat….)
Diet # 1
Urad dal (e.g. kachoris)

Diet # 2
Don’t eat #1 plus avoid the following:
1. Carrots
2. Favorite food items
3. Fried food
4. Hing
5. Honey
6. Kidney Beans (Rajma)
7. Mustard oil (in or on the body)
8. Pickles

Diet # 3
Avoid items in #1 and #2, plus eat only one time during 24 hours (sunrise to sunrise).

B. TWELVE DAILY SEVAS (Observe each of the following twelve sevas every day for 30 days of Karttika )
1. Rise brahma muhurta time and offer mangala aratika.
2. Recite Damodarastakam by Satyavrata Muni.
3. Offer ghee lamp to Radha-Krishna.
4. Observe celibacy one month.
5. Chant 16, 32 or 64 rounds Hare Krishna Mahamantra japa.
6. Recite astakams and prayers glorifying Radha and Krishna, e.g. Radha Krishna Krpa Kataksham; Gopi-gita.
7. Hear, recite or speak Bhagavad Gita or Srimad Bhagavatam, Radha-Krishna Vrindavana lilas.
8. Perform 1-3 hours daily Sri Harinama Sankirtana in your home or best in public.
9. Thakuraji and or Mandira parikrama.
10. Tulasi—aratika, song and parikrama.
11. Deity Puja—Increase to maximum level.
12. Keep ghee or sesame oil lamp burning daily near Thakuraji or Tulasi Maharani.

C. Last Day of Vrata

Observe Utthana Ekadasi vrata; complete fasting including water, and remain awake all night hearing, chanting, singing and dancing for the pleasure of Radha-Damodara. On Dvadasi, first give charity and maha-prasadam to Vaisnava brahmanas and devotees.

Conclude your Karttika Vrata with obeisances to your Gurudeva, Nitai-Gauranga, Srimati Radharani and your Thakuraji, thanking them all for their causeless mercy and blessings, which empowered you to be successful.
Now maha-prasade Govinde!!!

VII. Good Wishes
From our small corner at Radha Kunda in Sri Dhama Vrindavana, we sincerely pray to our Swamini Sri Radha and our Prananatha Giridhari Syama to bless you all with full success in your Karttika Niyama Seva Vrata. And remember that whatever difficulties may arise to test your heart’s determination just think…
DO OR DIE, ITS ALL FOR RAI!!
JAI JAI SRI RADHE SYAMA!!

“The Truth About Mahanidhi Swami” April, 2018

Hare Krishna! All glories to Srila Prabhupada!

Dear devotees,

Please accept my obeisances.

My name is Damodar das (Vrindavana), the first disciple of Mahanidhi Swami. Recently, I discovered my name and “my statements” are falsely quoted as witness testimony to defame Mahanidhi Swami on at least two famous Google sites.

Falsely quoting me and some phantom “ANONYMOUS MAHARAJA”, these posts have been defaming and blatantly slandering Mahanidhi Swami for five long years! (2013-2018).

Now IT’S TIME TO HEAR THE TRUTH! Since I have personally known and associated with Mahanidhi Swami for at least 20 years, I have some qualification to speak the truth about these events.

The following list of false and slanderous lies posted in 2013 are still running today on a few Internet Google sites. I will list the outright lies and slanderous statements and then STATE THE TRUTH.

1. Google Post: “The following was received from a Swami who would like to remain ANONYMOUS:” [then the posts goes on to list 11 slanderous lies against mahanidhi swami.

Damodara Dasa: Who is that phantom swami, anon? And how can anyone accept or believe a post full of slanderous lies against Mahanidhi Swami, based on words of an anonymous maharaja?

2. Google Post: “Aindra (Dasa ISKCON) used to come and meet Mahanidhi every day at Radha kunda.”

Damodara Dasa: A total LIE. Everyone knows Aindra Prabhu hardly ever left Krishna Balarama Mandir. At most, in 24 years Aindra Prabhu met Maharaja once or twice during Radha-kunda appearance.

3. Google Post: “A Maharaja [means swami or sannyasi], who wishes to remain ANONYMOUS, was the one who built Mahanidhi swami's ashram in Radha kunda in 2001.”

Damodara Dasa: Another LIE. Mahanidhi Swami alone built the ashram in 2004 not 2001. There was no one else, not even the “anon maharaja”. To verify this truth, you can ask all the Brahmins, Police and every single resident in Radha Kunda.

5. Google Post: “In 2003, the ANONYMOUS Swami saw him [mswami] make the grossest of offences when he kicked the SRIMAD BHAGAVATAM ON HIS VERANDA.”

Damodara Dasa: Total bogus. Mahanidhi Swami has been daily worshiping, and speaking and writing about the Srimad Bhagavatam for 42 years. Bhagavatam is his life and soul. Just look at all his I-net SB posts and audios.

6. Google Post: [Anon Maharaja said: [2003 or so] “Mahanidhi also gave him so-called SIDDHA PRANALI initiation AND he told him to do SMARANAM and YOGA PITHA UPASANA.

Damodara Dasa: This is absolute nonsense. Mahanidhi Swami himself did not have siddha pranali. And to date. He has not given siddha pranali to anyone!!

7 Google Post: “On his Vyasa puja this year (2012)… three days later, he (mswami) was gone. The Anon Maharaja was told that his disciples pleaded with him not to leave Radha Kunda and sort his problems out. They asked him to leave the association of the old lady (75 years old?).

Damodara Dasa: I was there personally and no such thing was said nor did he leave with anyone and go anywhere. FACT IS Mahanidhi Swami has NOT LEFT RADHA KUNDA SINCE 2010. Witnesses: everyone in Radha Kunda!

8. Google Post: “(ANON) Maharaja spoke with DAMODARA DASA (mahanidhi swami's first disciple) and he confirmed the news of maharaja's affair with a lady from Delhi.”

Damodara Dasa: I have never spoken these statements to any maharaj, or anybody including the gbc. It’s absolute rubbish!

9. Google Post: “Maharaja (mswami) was caught with her red handed 2 months back.

Damodara Dasa: Again, a total lie and more slander. Such an event never never happened. It’s totally false.

10. Google Post: “Very few know that mahanidhi swami had approached Srila Prabhupada for sannyasa. And Srila Prabhupada rejected him saying you are not qualified for sannyasa.”

Damodara Dasa: Another complete lie and slander. This is just too much falsity. Mahanidhi Swami never, never even met or even talked to Srila Prabhupada. You can ask him yourself. The TRUTH IS that eight years after Prabhupada’s Samadhi (1977), Maharaja took sannyasa from Satsvarupa das Goswami in 1985, Mayapur.

11. Google Post: “THIS MATAJI WAS MARRIED TO A GUY AND MAHARAJA GOT HER DIVORCED FROM HIM IN 2006.”

Damodara Dasa: I know “this mataji” and her husband for 20 years. She is still married and no such event happened. Again another LIE put in bold print too for more emphasis by google site.

Conclusion: Just see how two popular Google I-net sites and others too are propagating 11 DIFFERENT LIES to continually defame and slander the name and character of Mahanidhi Swami. It’s really too bad that nowadays the Internet is considered as the absolute truth. Anybody can write about anyone, stating anything that they like. That’s why we always see that if any person is doing any good in this world, then there will be hate sites, entire coms dedicated to blasphemy.

Now that everyone has read the TRUTH, I hope devotees will feel more sympathetic and understanding toward Mahanidhi Swami.

Dasanudas, Damodar das, Vrindavana (damodar108@gmail.com)

Our View of Vrinda- Devi

  Mahanidhi Madan Gopal Das

The Brahma Vaivarta Purana and other Puranas contain stories about Vrinda-devi and other transcendental associates of Sri Krishna being cursed and descending to the material world. Gaudiya Vaisnavas do not reject these stories because they are in the shastras. However, we do not follow them because Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and the six Gosvamis did not present these ideas. The six Gosvamis distilled all the shastras and presented  the essential truth for all the Gaudiya Vaisnavas to understand and follow. According to Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, Rupa Gosvami and Raghunatha Das Gosvami, Vrinda-devi is a nitya sakhi of Shrimati Radharani for the eternal loving service of Radha and Krishna in the spiritual world and in the material world when the Divine Couple descend, Vrinda devi exhibits two forms; one as a sakhi named Vrinda-devi and another form as a beautiful bush named Tulasi devi replete with beautiful leaves and fragrant flowers called manjaris. Any other conception about Vrinda-devi is not endorsed by Gaudiya Vaisnavas.

Shrimati Vrinda devi ki jai!

Shrimati Tulasi Maharani ki jai!

Jai Jai Sri Radhe!!